Gunman Surrenders After Shootout

August 29, 1985|By Rudolph Unger and Jack Houston.

A 38-year-old man surrendered Wednesday after he allegedly shot a neighbor, barricaded himself in his apartment in a Far South Side Chicago Housing Authority building and exchanged gunfire with police.

The suspect, Arthur J. Carter Jr., gave himself up after police negotiated with him by phone for 40 minutes while he hid in a closet in his apartment at 13268 S. Ellis Ave., in the Altgeld Gardens project.

Scores of police, canine units and neighbors were on hand as Carter, dressed only in his shorts, walked out of the apartment, according to Capt. Robert Reilly, acting commander of the Pullman District.

No charges were placed against Carter, pending a review of the case by the state`s attorney`s office. Carter was taken in handcuffs to the Pullman District for questioning.

About an hour before his surrender, Carter allegedly shot and wounded a neighbor, Walter Gray, 31, of 13270 S. Ellis Ave., with whom Carter has had a long-standing feud, according to police.

Gray, shot in the left leg and left side of his head, was reported in fair condition in Roseland Community Hospital, where he was taken by Fire Department paramedics.

Police confiscated two weapons from Carter`s apartment, a 12-gauge shotgun and a 9 mm. submachine gun with a 30-round clip, apparently the weapon used to shoot Gray, police said.

After shooting Gray, according to police, Carter fled to his apartment and telephoned WLS-TV and talked to Jim Lichtenstein, assignment editor.

Lichtenstein said he calmed Carter, got his name and address and advised him to unload his weapon and surrender.

Lichtenstein then talked to Lt. John Kennedy, head of the police hostage- barricade-terrorist unit, who phoned Carter and told him to surrender after leaving his weapon in the closet and stripping to his shorts. Carter came out a short time later.